Hardlopen met Evy

Opening the App and Starting a Run

The app opens to a simple dashboard. No flashy animations. No complex menus. Just a clear path to start a run. The first screen shows the current training plan, the next scheduled workout, and a large "Start" button. Tap it and the app asks for location permissions. Grant it, and the GPS kicks in. The voice of Evy Gruyaert fills your ears. She tells you to start walking. Then to start running. Then to walk again. The intervals are precise. The instructions are clear. The app tracks your distance, pace, and time. It saves everything to your history. The interface is clean, almost minimal. No distractions. Just the coach and the road.

The app offers more than 25 training plans. From a first 5K to a full marathon. Each plan is designed by coaches at Golazo Energy. The plans use a run-walk technique. This is the core of the app's approach. Run for a set time, then walk. Repeat. The intervals gradually shift toward more running and less walking. The app claims this minimizes injury risk. The science behind it is solid. But the app's execution is where things get complicated. The voice coaching is the standout feature. Evy's encouragement is personalized. She comments on your pace, your form, and your progress. It feels like having a real coach in your ear. That is the app's unique selling point. It is not just a tracking tool. It is a motivational partner.

When Free Is Not Really Free

The app is listed as free on the Play Store. But the free version is limited. To access the most basic training program — the Start to Run 5K plan — you need a subscription. This is a major point of confusion. One user wrote: "Subscription needed for most basic program while it claims to have a free and paid mode." The app offers a one-week free trial. After that, it is €2.99 per month or €12.99 per year. The free version includes GPS tracking and basic stats. But the structured training plans, the voice coaching, and the heart rate features are locked behind the paywall. This creates a bait-and-switch feeling. The app markets itself as a coaching app, but the coaching requires payment. The free version is essentially a basic running tracker. The subscription model is not clearly explained in the Play Store description. Users have to dig into the app to discover the limitations.

The confusion extends to the language settings. The app offers multiple voices: Evy (Dutch), Emma (English), Julie (French), and Sofia (Italian). But some users report that parts of the app remain in Dutch even when English is selected. One reviewer asked: "Is it possible to change the language of the app?" Another noted: "Why is part in French, including the newsletter?" The app's international appeal is undermined by these localization gaps. For a user who does not speak Dutch, the experience can be frustrating. The app's origin as a Dutch-language podcast explains this. But the app has grown beyond the Netherlands and Belgium. It now has nearly 1 million users worldwide. The language issues should have been resolved by now. They have not.

The GPS and Stability Reality

The app relies heavily on GPS for distance tracking. When it works, it works well. But when it does not, the entire experience falls apart. One reviewer described: "It doesn't reliably measure the distance you ran and so you are listening to 'great job you ran 0.5 km' for the entire training." The app's motivational feedback is tied to distance. If the GPS is wrong, the feedback is wrong. The user feels demotivated. The app's intended effect — encouragement — becomes a source of frustration. Another user reported: "Spends long times 'calibrating GPS' (think of 30+ minutes) to result in faulty GPS readings." A 30-minute GPS calibration is unacceptable for a running app. Most runners want to start immediately. Waiting half an hour defeats the purpose.

The app also has stability issues. Users report crashes during runs. One reviewer wrote: "No 5 stars because of occasional stopping of app during runs." Another said: "Issues with app stability, including crashing during runs and failing to save progress." Losing a run's data mid-workout is a significant problem. The app's autosave feature should prevent this. But it does not always work. The developer has released updates with "minor bug fixes." But the issues persist. The app's last update was in July 2026. The changelog says "Minor bug fixes and improvements." No specific details. Users are left guessing whether their particular crash was fixed. The app's support team is responsive. The email address is provided. But the response time is unclear.

Permissions and What They Mean

The app requests location permission. This is necessary for GPS tracking. It also requests notification permission. This is for run reminders and motivational alerts. The app does not request storage, contacts, or camera permissions. That is positive. The app's data safety section states that location, personal info, and six other data types may be collected. The data is encrypted in transit. Users can request that data be deleted. This is a reasonable privacy policy for a fitness app. The app does not share data with third parties, according to the Play Store. This is a strong point. Many fitness apps sell user data to advertisers. Hardlopen met Evy does not. The app is compliant with GDPR and other privacy regulations. The developer is based in Belgium, which has strict data protection laws. This adds a layer of trust.

The app's connection with Apple Health and Strava is a useful feature. Users can sync their workouts with these platforms. This allows for a more comprehensive view of fitness data. The app also supports heart rate monitors. Users can connect a chest strap or sports watch. The app helps determine heart rate zones. This is a feature typically found in premium running apps. It adds value for serious runners. But the heart rate feature requires a subscription. The free version does not include it. This is another example of the free version's limitations. The app is a good product for paying users. For free users, it is a basic tracker with a pleasant voice.